Cleaning apparatus



Aug 12,1930.l G. E. wHITLocK V 1,772,530

CLEANING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug.I 12,1930. G. E. WHITLOCK 1,772,530

CLEANING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 5, 1922 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 zoA gin/manto@ Aug. 12, 1930. EWHITLOcK l 1 1,772,530

CLEANING APPARATUS Original FiledJan.' 3, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented ug. 12, 1930 UNITED sil-arasv PTE NT, OFFICE f j GEORGE E'Wm'rnocx, or EENo, NEvADA, Assumer. 0E ONE-HALEN v KYLE, F RENO, NEVADA CLEANING APPARATUS Application liled January 3, 1922, Serial No. 526,646` Benew'edpril 4, 1929.

This invention relates generally to cleaning apparatus and relates more particularly to cleaning apparatus of the self-contained vacuum type. a

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide cleaning apparatus light in Weight'y and of simple compact construction, so that it may be easily lifted and held in the hand while being used.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved brushing mechanism and improved means fo-r adjustably mounting the brushing mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will be clear from the following description.

Broadly stated, the cleaning apparatus embodying my. invention comprises a body lor casing, means for causing dust and dirt to enter said body or casing, a dust and dirt receiving receptacle secured to the body or casing and means forming a handle 'enclosing said receptacle.

More specifically described, my invention embodies a casing, suction-production means, driving means for said suction-production means, brushing means, means for adjustably mounting said brushing means, means transmitting motion from said driving means to said brushing means, a dustv and dirt recelving receptacle secured to the casing and means forming a handle enclosing sald receptacle.

"Thewaccompanying drawings illustrate cleaning apparatus embodying the principle of my'invention, but it isto be understood th t th 'fi b d' t h h f a e Speel C em 0 unen ere c Ogen or' 'by ap1ate20 which bridges the lmouth of the purposes of illustration-is merely one form typical of the broad invention and is to be taken yas illustrative and not restrictive.

Inthe drawings, y, l Fig. Iis a top plan View of cleaning apparatus embodying my invention; y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view showing an end of the nozzle part of the body or-casingr:

f Fig. 13 is" a sectional view taken onlthe vline 3&3 of Fig. 1 .looking in the direction- V'ointwh'ereit opensinto the discharge"'ope'- ff'the arrows; y.

"ofthe fan blades andf the periphery-o .part ofthe casing, one ot` the .endl-bottom plates -bengleft o'; W

. Fig. 5 a'sectionalview taken on line55 i, of Fig.` 1 looking in the directionof the ar.y 7 1 t 65 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken" Y on lme 6-,6 of Figg looking in the direc-` rows;

tion of the arrows; and l Fig. 7. 's an enlarged kdetail of one of the end bearings.v

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates generally the casing or body of my improved cleanlng apparatus. yThis casing r comprises a collecting nozzle 11, in this instance made integral withthe casing, which is adapted to be applied vto the surface tobecleaned and a substantially spiral suction or fan chamber 12 disposed adjacent to said nozzle and communicating therewith. In the present example, the bottom wall 13 of the suction chamber 12 forms the top wall of the nozzle 11,

the interior of the nozzle and the suction chamber communicating through opening 14. provided in the bottom wall of the suction chamber. The nozzleis elongated transversely of the apparatus, thereby' affording a- Wide working mouth, theends of the nozzle projecting laterally much farther than the fan chamber. A removable cover plate 15 carrying a motor 16 `forms the top wall of the fan chamber. The shaft 17 ofthe motor 16 extends through a bearing 18 kin the cover plate 15 into the fan chamber 12, passing through the communicating aperture 14: into nozzle 11, the extending end of the shaftbeing supported in a thrust bearing 19 carried nozzle 11. 'Mounted on the shaft 17 torotate in the fan` chamber 12 isthe fan 21.l Whenl loer."u It is tov be 'observed that inthe present A l instance, the periphery `of the vfan chamber is spiralin shape, so that a passage gradually increasing 'inl slze is formed'betweenthegialtlh Et e fanV casing, thelpassage being: largestj at' the mg 22, whereby insuring maximum operating 30 shielded and efficiency. Removably secured to the outlet. 22 by any suitable means 23 is a dust and dirt reoelving. receptacle 24. This maybe made of any desired size and sha and of any suitable material, but I re er to make it of closely woven porous c oth in the shape of a tubularbag and comparatively small in size so that it can be fitted within means forming an operating handle' for the apparatus. In the present instance the handle comprises a hollow tubular member 25, which may be made of hard rubber, fibre, etc., removably secured to a casting 26 secured to the casing adjacent the outlet 22. The handle 25 is made slightly larger than the dust collecting or settling 'bag 24to allow the electric wires 27 which bring electric current to the motor to be placed therein. The wires v,lead to a switch 28 located in the casting 26. It will zo be readily seen that I have provided a very simple, compact arrangement of parts and because of m novel-combination of handle and dust co ecting receptacle, I have not only arranged'two parts in the space of one,`

but-have also obviated the usual liabby dustsettling bag so objectionable because it interferes with the free use of apparatus of this general type. It will be observed that in my improved apparatus, the settling bag is rotected and takes .up no more space than that required fortheordinary handle.

. In order to increase the efficiency of my apparatus, I have provided means for agitating or stirring-apt my apparatus has gone over a surface it is left clean and substantially free from dust and dirt. The agitating or stirring mechanism in the present instance includes a shaft 29 supported at its ends by adjustable bearings 30 and l31 and at the center by adjustable bearing 32 mounted in the nozzle part of the casing. The shaft 29 carries two brush sections 33 and 34 spaced on the shaft to leave a space at the center of the shaft for the center bearing and support 32` and for the mechanism for driving or rotating the brush. In the example illustrated, each end bearin 30 or 31 comprises a bearing block 35 Y w ich nia be made .of fibre or other suitable material, having a recess or a rture36 for rotatabl'yhsupporting an en of thel brush shaft. is bearing block is removably secured to a bracket 37 having a reduced porn?, tion providedwith an internally threaded aperture 38 which extends at r1 ht. angles with respect to the aperture 36. ach bearin block is slidably mounted inaslot 39 prol v1 ed 1n eachl end-of.- the nozzle part of the o0 casing, the reduced portion of the'bracket 37 e dust or dirt so that after ed aperture 38 provided in each bearing bracket 37, one end of the pin fitting "in a socket or aperture 41 provided inthe casing. A collar or shoulder 42 on the pin prevents it from slipping through the socket or aperture in the casing'. The other end of the in is rotatably supported in a socket provi ed in a removable bottom plate 43, said plate forcing the shoulder of the pinl against the socket and holdingr the pin so that one end is flush yWith o1' a little above the surface of the casing. This end may be slotted for reception of a screw-driver or similar tool or may be roughencd vto facilitate turning by hand when it is desired to adjust the position of the brush so that it extends more or less out of the nozzle.. The center adjustabl bearing or support 32 comprises a substan. tially U-shaped bracket, the ends of the arms of the bracket being vslotted to receive and rotatably support the shaft 29. The bracket is adjustably supported to slide along one l wall of the nozzle by means of a pin 44, one

end of which is rotatably mounted in a'socket 45 provided in the casing, the other end being mounted in a socket or aperture provided in the plate 20, a collar 46 preventing the pin from sliding through the aperture. The pin has an externally threaded portion' 47 whlch threads into an internally threaded a erture 48 in the base of the U-shaped brac et 32.

The end of the pin which extends into the socket or aperture in the plate 20 is referablyflush with the latter and is pre erably slotted or otherwise formed so that it may be engaged and turned by a screw-driver or similar tool to adjust the brush so that it ex- 'tends more orless 4out of the nozzle.

brush and whichneed not be disconnected to' adjust the latter. Preferably mounted on the shaft 29 between the arms of the .U-sha bracket 32 is a worm wheel 49 which m es with a worm 50I secured to the motor shaft'A 17. It will be seen -that I have provided common mechanism for driving the suction-production means and the brushing or agitating means.

ratus, the brush construction shown me is preferred. In my improved construction the bristles of the brush are clamped and held be tween the coils of wire 51 wound closetogether around the shaft 29, the ends of the able constructionmay be used in mg 'appa- While it is evident that a brush of any suitv wire extending through holes drilled in the l shaft and riveted therein.

The operation and advantages of my a g paratus areso obvious as to require no etailed discussion. When the current is turned on, the motor. operates the brushing mechamsm and the suction roducing means. The dust and dirt raised y the brush is sucked clothes, but this is only one of many uses to l brushing means and meansA for driving said y connected and the dust bag removed and` emptied after which the bag and handle are re laced. y'

t will be seen that I have provided extremely light, compact, portable cleaning apparatus. The apparatus because of its small sizey and weight is especially adapted to clean which the apparatus may be put.

What I claim is:

1. Cleaning apparatus comprising a casing, suction producing means, driving means therefor including a motor and a drive shaft, a rotary brush arranged transversely of said drive shaft, means for adjustably supporting said brush at its ends and intermediate its ends and a positive driving connection between said drive shaft and said brush.

2. Cleaning apparatus comprising, a casing, suction producing means, brushing means comprising a shaft provided with brush sections, means intermediate said brush sections and at the ends of the shaft for adjustably supporting the shaft'and common means for positively driving said brush and said suction-producing means.

3. Cleaning apparatus comprising a casing, suctionfproducin'g means, vbrushing means comprising a. shaft provided with brush sections, adjustable bearings intermediate said brush sections and at the ends of the shaft for adjustably supporting said brushing means comprising a worm wheel mounted on the brush shaft intermediate the brush sections, a motor shaft and a worm mounted on said shaft and in driving englaligment with the worm wheel on said brush 4. In cleaning apparatus including a casing provided with a collecting nozzle, suction producing means associated with said casing, driving means for said suction producing means, said driving means including a motor and a drive shaft, a rotary brush arranged transversely of said drive shaft, and means including a positive driving connection between the drive shaft and the brush, a dust and dirt receiving receptacle secured to the casing, said casing lying between the dust and l dirt receiving receptacle and the nozzle, and

a hollow handle opening into said casing and,

enclosing said receptacle.

5. In cleaning apparatus including a casing provided with a collecting nozzle, suction producing means associated with said casing, and driving means for said suction producing means, a dust andy dirt receiving receptacle secured to the casing, said casing lying between'th'e dust and dirt receiving recep.4

tacle and the nozzle, and a hollow handle opening into said casing and enclosing saidv receptacle.

6. In cleaning apparatus including a casing provided with a collecting nozzle and suction producing means associated with said casing, a dust and dirt receiving receptacle secured to the casin said casing lying be,- tween the dust and rt receiving receptacle and the nozzle, and a hollow container opening into said casing and enclosing said receptacle, said container being relatively narrow so that it may be conveniently grasped by one hand of an operator, thereby to serve as a handle for holding and manipulating said cleaning apparatus.

7. Incleaning apparatus which includes a casing provided with a collecting nozzle, a. suction producing means associated w1th said casing and wherein a dust and dirt receiving rece tacle is secured to the casing, said casing ying between the dust and dirt receiving receptacle and the nozzle, a hollow container opening into said casing and enclosing the dust and dirt receiving receptacle, said container being relatively narrow so that it may be used as a handle for manipulating the cleaning apparatus.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

. GEORGE E. WHITLOCK. 

